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Bob Dylan – John Brown

Mar 13, 2010 Columbia Records
Posted by Admin

“John Brown” is an anti-war song by Bob Dylan written in 1962 but unreleased until his 1995 MTV Unplugged performance. From February 1961, Dylan played at various clubs around Greenwich Village. In September, he eventually gained public recognition when Robert Shelton wrote a positive review in The New York Times of a show at Gerde’s Folk City. The same month Dylan played harmonica on folk singer Carolyn Hester’s eponymous third album, which brought his talents to the attention of the album’s producer John Hammond. Hammond signed Dylan to Columbia Records in October. The performances on his first Columbia album, Bob Dylan (1962), consisted of familiar folk, blues and gospel material combined with two original compositions. The album made little impact, selling only 5000 copies in its first year, just enough to break even. Within Columbia Records, some referred to the singer as “Hammond’s Folly” and suggested dropping his contract. Hammond defended Dylan vigorously, and Johnny Cash was also a powerful ally of Dylan. While working for Columbia, Dylan also recorded several songs under the pseudonym Blind Boy Grunt, for Broadside Magazine, a folk music magazine. Bob Dylan’s songs have been covered by: Adele Bob Marley & the Wailers The Band Jeff Beck Garth Brooks The Byrds Johnny Cash & June Carter Rosanne Cash and co. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Cher The Clancy Brothers Eric Clapton Sheryl Crow The Dead Weather Ronnie Drew and Eleanor Shanley The Dubliners with De Danann Duran …

Tags: Brown, Dylan, John